Optimization of formulations on the preservation of conidia of Beauveria bassiana (Bals) Vuill and Metarhizium anisopliae (Hetschn) Sorok under different conditions of storage

This research deals with the preparation of experimental formulations with conidia of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae. The experiments were set in the Laboratory of Insect Pathology of the Department of Entomology, ''Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz'', in Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brasil. The wettable powder formulations were prepared with syloid and corn-starch and adjuvants (dextrose, lactose and honeybee). The oil formulations were prepared with sunflower oil and non-emulsifiable mineral oil. The formulations were kept at 20, 25 and 30+/-1 degrees C. M. anisopliae conidia plus lactose present 70% of viability after 180 days of storage at 20+/-1 degrees C. B. bassiana pure conidia and conidia plus culture media (rice) presented 95% of viability while conidia with lactose plus syloid presented 60% of viability. B. bassiana with sunflower oil presented 90% of viability after 240 days of storage.